Latch operating mechanism



Jan. 2, 1951 C, E. RUNDEL 2,536,772

LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 11. 1945 INVENToR. kamasu Eff/ou.

Patented Jan. 2, 1,951

LATCH OPERATING MECHANISM Clarabelle E. Rundel, Southfield Township, Oakland County, Mich.

ApplicationAugust 11, 1945, Serial No. 610,263

My invention relates to a new and useful im` provement in an ornamental latch-operating vdevice, adapted for mounting on doors and similarly movable bodies which are fastened together by means of a latch mechanism. On such devices as doors, drawers and the like, a latch mechanism is frequently provided which is releasable by a plunger which is pressed inwardly in order to release the latch. It is common on such devices to provide in addition to the inwardly directed plunger which has vto be pressed in in order to release the latch, a handle whereby the door or drawer may be swung or'moved. In the present invention I provide an ornamental structure which is neat and attractive in its appearance and which serves as a means for forcing the plunger in to release the latch and at the same time aiords a means for moving the object when the latch has been released. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device of this class which will be simple in structure, economical in manufacture, durable, compact, easily and quickly installed, attractive in appearance and highly efficient in operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of this class in which a supporting body is provided with a swingably mounted member which will serve as a cam when swung upwardly or into operative position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a device of this class a supporting escutcheon having a pendant swingably mounted thereon and provided on its rear face with a plunger engaging cam face.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated and it is intended that such shall be embraced within the scope of the claim which forms a part hereof. Forming a part of this application are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view takenon line 3 3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a slight modication of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing a different form of mounting.

In the drawings I have shown the invention mounted on a door 1 which is in swingable rela- 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-222) tion to the frame 8. Mounted on the door 1 is a latch housing 9 having the latch III which is adapted to latch the door 'I in closed relation to l the frame 8. This latch I0 is actuated by the plunger II which is normally pressed outwardly by a spring IIA and which is pressed inwardly against the compression or tension of the spring in order to release the latch. This latch mechanism may be of any well known structure and of itself forms no part of the present invention and is illustrated merely for the purposes of exemplifying the invention.

The invention comprises a supporting plate or escutcheon cam I2 which is mounted upon the door 1. This plate I2 may be of any ornamental shape or appearance and may be formed of any desirable color. The plate I2 is provided with the outwardly projecting boss I3 which serves to form a housing in the front wall of which is formed a slot I4. Supported by this plate I2 and depending therefrom is a pendant which serves both as a handle for swinging the door 1 and as a means for actuating or pressing inwardly the plunger II. In the drawings I have shown this pendant comprising a ball I5 projecting outwardly from which is a neck I5 carrying at its end a head I1. This pendant may of course be formed from any desirable material and may be of any desired color. The head I'I is preferably formed spherical and on the inner side thereof a groove I9 is formed to provide a cam surface, the plunger vII being in alignment with and projecting inwardly of this groove I9.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, this groove varies in depth so that the cam surface is provided. When the member I5 is swung upwardly toward the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, the plunger I I riding in the cam groove will be forced inwardly to release the latch and the operator may then use the member I5 as a handle to swing the door or to draw outwardly a drawer or similarly movable body on which the invention is mounted. It is believed obvious that the meinber I3 serves as a socket in which the head I1, which is preferably cylindrical or spherical, is mounted. However the engagement of the plunger II in the cam groove I9 prevents a rotation of the pendant on the axis of its neck. When the pendant is swung upwardly so that the plunger reaches the end of the groove I9 the plunger will be forced inwardly to releasing position while still slightly engaging in the groove I9. The length of the slot I4 will of course limit the upward swinging of the member I5.

The groove I9 as shown in Fig. 2, lies in a plane which passes through or extends longitudinally of the axis of the neck I6 of the pendant. In Fig. 5, I have shown a slight modification in which the groove ISA formed in the head I1A is carried by the neck IGA of the pendant ISA and in which engages the plunger I IA lies in a plane extended at right angles to the axis of the member IBA. With this form the release of the latch mechanism may be effected in the same manner as is accomplished bythe preferred viorm 'shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. However, in the form shown in Fig. 5 the pendant may be rotated on the axis of the neck IGA without dis-engaging the plunger from the groove ISA.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a slight modification in which a pin I8 is directed through a head HB and through the side walls -of the housing :I3 4so that the structure is pivotally mounted by means of the pin and the supporting by means 'of 'a ball and socket arrangement is not resorted to.

In a device of this kind constructed as illustrated it Ibecomes possible to provide a vdoor 'latch 'releasing member which will .also serve as a 'handle and which may be of 'highly ornamental appearance. Particularly is vthis so when Ithe yparts are formed Vfrom vari-colored plastics.

What I claim as new and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent .isz

A device -of the class described adapted for use with 4a Vlatching mechanism having .a long-itud-inally moveable latch releasing plunger, "comprising a. supporting body adapted for mounting on a supporting structure with which said .-latching mechanism is used; a socket forming housing on said body and the socket therein being opened at its lower end and said housing having an outer wall with a vertically extending slot formed therein extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof and communicating with the socket; a pendant comprising an elongated neck having a ball at its lower end and provided at its upper end with a spherical Lhead, `said head lhaving a groove formed therein extending from its lower end to its upper end and lying in a plane parallel with the axis of said neck, said groove being deepver at its 'lower end than at its upper end, said head being positioned in said socket to provide va -pivot on which said pendant may be swung upwardly and downwardly, one end of said re- :leasi-ng plunger engaging in said groove, the surface'of said groove, upon swinging of said pendant upwardly, eiecting longitudinal movement of said releasing plunger, tand said releasing plunger in engagement with the sides .of said groove preventing .rotation of said head in said socket.

CLARABELLE E. BUNDEL.

The following references are of Irecord in the file of this patent:

UNIT-ED STAT-ES .PATENTS Number Name Date 174,599 'Weeden ....-I Mar. 47,118.76 1,882,248 Madsen Oct. .1.1, l1932 2 212,563 Groeger Aug. y.2?, 19.40 

